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Harry How

They sat at the podium, side-by-side, issuing mea culpas for their performance thus far.

San Jose Sharks centre "Little" Joe Pavelski, who was a stellar playoff performer for them last year: "I haven't showed up the way I like. I can be better in a lot of areas. The big thing is, protect the puck a little bit more, be a little bit cleaner with it, start skating better."

Sharks' winger Ryane Clowe, the pride of Newfoundland, who was leading the team in scoring and is now playing his way through an upper-body injury: "In the first two games of the series, we can be better as a team and I can be better as an individual. You'd think a grinding series like this would suit my game. I've got to be a little sharper in the offensive zone with the puck. There's room for improvement, not only for me, but for the team."

This candid and unusually frank talk came after San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan spent two days, explaining how his top players needed to elevate their games to turn the Western Conference final into a series. Playoffs are like that. The Vancouver Canucks are getting timely scoring from their key offensive players, so that if Ryan Kesler falls off for a game or two, the Sedins pick him up. And vice versa. It's different in San Jose, which is why the focus there is on the individuals that need to be better.

The Sharks meet the Vancouver Canucks here in Game 3 tonight, pretty much needing a win on home ice to inject some intrigue into a series that they currently trail 2-0.

"We're not a selfish team by any means and we're not stupid either," said Clowe. "We know who he's talking about. We just gotta respond."

On Friday morning, McLellan promised both line-up changes and line changes for his Sharks. With the home-ice advantage, he will try to shift the match-ups, especially on defence, where the Sedins, Henrik and Daniel, have had an impressive start to the series, with their cycle game down low. They have been particularly good with the man advantage, which is why enhanced composure was also on McLellan's list of things that need to change tonight.

Some options for the Sharks: Moving a couple of younger players into the lineup, such as Jamie McGinn, who has only dressed for four games thus far in the playoffs. Two players potentially on the bubble: Kyle Wellwood, struggling on the third line, and fourth liner Jamal Mayers, both of whom are having trouble keeping up with the speedier Canucks in the series. It's also why Ben Eager will likely stay in the line-up, even if discipline is not his strongest suit. For a big man, Eager moves pretty well.

McLellan suggested today he wants to see more sustained attack in the offensive zone, noting that thus far in the series, they have been "one-and-out" too often. Among other things, it means they've failed to put sustained pressure on Canucks' goaltender Roberto Luongo, who has had a couple of fairly easy outings thus far in the series.

"It's frustrating," said Clowe. "I don't think it's a lack of people caring. At this time of year, it's funny how you can say, 'we need more guys, we've got some passengers in the Western Conference final.' And you got a taste of it last year, so you know how hard it is. I'm sure we can push a little harder."

A year ago, the Sharks were swept out of the playoffs in the third round by the Chicago Blackhawks. The only difference there is San Jose started last year's series on home ice, and were down two, heading out on the road.

The Sharks will have the benefit of their forgiving enthusiastic fan base behind them when they take on the Canucks tonight. But a loss there and it could end in a hurry.

Thus far in the series, the Sharks have been badly outplayed in the third periods, which McLellan found ironic, because their third periods were so strong earlier in the playoffs - against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and then early in the Detroit Red Wings' series as well.

"The first periods weren't good to us against L.A.," said McLellan. "Now we're talking about third periods. If we're fortunate enough to move on, maybe we'll be talking about the second period. So that's hockey. That's how it happens. For different reasons, we've been good and bad in both cases. We're only two games in here. In both cases, it was 3-2 in the third.

"We'll look to change that tonight."

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